Gibbs recalled for Australia ODIs

South Africa have recalled Herschelle Gibbs as well as naming three new players in their 15-man squad for the two Twenty20 internationals and five ODIs in Australia. Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who is already on tour with the Test team, will be joined by his Warriors team-mate Wayne Parnell and Vaughn van Jaarsveld of the Lions, all looking for their international debuts.

Gibbs, who was dropped from the one-day squad to take on Bangladesh at home, after breaking a team curfew, makes his return along with Makhaya Ntini, who was overlooked for the two previous home series against Kenya and Bangladesh in October-November.

At the age of 34, Gibbs' international future had been in doubt prior to this recall. He has not been part of the Test side since he was dropped for the tour of Bangladesh in February this year, and his omission for the return series preceded a month-long alcohol rehabilitation programme.

Monde Zondeki, Johann Louw and Justin Ontong have failed to make the cut, after disappointing in the two previous home series.

"The new caps are all young players we have identified as having the potential to take us forward," commented selection convener Mike Procter. "Van Jaarsveld has been the outstanding performer in the MTN Domestic Championship this season with his consistent big-hitting scoring. He is also an outstanding slip fielder.

"Wayne Parnell was one of the stand-out performers at this year's ICC Under-19 World Cup where he impressed with his maturity in being the leading wicket-taker in the tournament (18) as well as leading South Africa to the final which they were unlucky to lose.

"Tsotsobe has impressed by the manner in which he has settled into the Proteas' squad both on and off the field. His combination of swing and bounce makes him a good wicket-taking prospect," he said.

van Jaarsveld, who might not have been eligible for international cricket had he not pulled out of a contract with Warwickshire in 2007, is currently on top of the run-scorers' charts in the MTN Domestic Championship with 487 runs from eight matches at 69.57, while both Parnell and Tsotsobe were part of the training camp that the South Africans held at the start of this summer to prepare for the various limited-overs series.

Parnell's best performance at the Under-19 World Cup came in the semi-final against Bangladesh where he made 57 and then took 6 for 8. He was also the leading wicket-taker for South Africa A in the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka A in September this year, with seven from four matches.

The limited-overs leg of the tour begins with the first Twenty20 international in Melbourne on January 11, and will conclude with the fifth ODI in Perth on January 30.

South Africa ODI and Twenty20 squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha (vice-capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.